JP4411531B2 - Paper cassette for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper feed cassette of an image forming apparatus in which a box-shaped storage body that stores recording media in a stacked manner is configured to be detachable from an image forming apparatus main body.

  In general, in various image forming apparatuses such as an electrophotographic copying machine and a printer, a sheet feeding cassette configured to be capable of stacking a large number of recording media is disposed in the sheet feeding apparatus. The recording medium pulled out from the paper feed cassette is transported through a predetermined paper feed path and sent to a transfer area of an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed.

  A paper feed cassette used in such an image forming apparatus usually has a box-shaped storage body that stores recording media in a stacked form, and a large number of recording media are stacked in the box-shaped storage body. To be stored in. The box-shaped storage body constituting such a paper feed cassette is configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, and can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus main body so as to be replenished with a recording medium. Is possible.

  On the other hand, in an image forming apparatus that has been reduced in size and weight as in recent years, when a paper feed cassette is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, part of the box-shaped storage body of the paper feed cassette forms an image. There is an image forming apparatus configured to be exposed to the outside from the apparatus main body (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In particular, in such an image forming apparatus in which the outwardly exposed portion of the paper feed cassette is large, illegal handling is performed in which the externally exposed portion of the paper feed cassette is gripped by hand and the entire apparatus is lifted. It is possible. If no countermeasures are taken against such illegal handling, the weight of the entire device will be loaded on the paper cassette when the entire device is lifted up, causing damage to the paper cassette, There is also a risk that the entire apparatus may fall down due to breakage of the cassette.

JP-A-5-66621

  Accordingly, the present invention can satisfactorily prevent the possibility of damage to the paper feed cassette configured to protrude to the outside from the image forming apparatus main body and the risk of dropping the entire image forming apparatus. An object is to provide a paper feed cassette of an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, in the sheet cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, the box-shaped storage body having a substantially rectangular shape for storing the recording media in a stacked manner is provided with respect to the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus configured to be detachably mounted, wherein a part of a box-shaped storage body mounted on the image forming apparatus main body is exposed to the outside from the image forming apparatus main body. In the paper feed cassette of the apparatus, the box-shaped storage body is constituted by a two-part structure divided in the mounting direction of the box-shaped storage body , and the other side can be separated from one side of the two-part structure. It is connected.

  According to the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus of the present invention having such a configuration, the image forming apparatus as a whole is held by the outside exposed portion of the paper feed cassette attached to the image forming apparatus main body. When the illegal handling such as lifting is performed, the lifting operation force causes the one side and the other side of the two-part structure of the box-shaped storage body to be separated from each other, thereby releasing the lifting operation force. Therefore, the illegal handling as described above is not performed.

Further, in the sheet feeding cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, two-piece structure of the upper Symbol box-shaped housing body, wherein when the box-shaped container is mounted to the image forming apparatus main body An apparatus inner part stored on the inner side of the image forming apparatus main body, and an apparatus outer part exposed from the inner side to the outer side of the image forming apparatus main body. wearing portion is coupled to the rotating if capacity through the rotary support mechanism relative to the apparatus adhering part.

According to the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention having such a structure, integral coupling and device outer wear portion and device application section in the box-shaped housing body is in normal use If it is improperly handled, such as lifting the entire image forming device by holding the device outer attachment part of the paper feed cassette attached to the image forming device main body by hand, the lifting operation By rotating so that the apparatus outer attachment part is flipped upward with respect to the apparatus inner attachment part by force, the above lifting operation force is released, and illegal handling cannot be performed. Yes.

Further, in the sheet feeding cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention, the intra-device application section of the upper Symbol bisected structures and devices outside deposition part, the following reference load value in the stacking direction of said recording medium A lock mechanism is provided that maintains an integrally connected state with respect to a load, while releasing the integrally connected state with respect to a load that exceeds the reference load value.

According to the paper feed cassette according to claim 1 the image forming apparatus according to the present invention having such a structure, in normal use the device wearing part in the box-shaped container by holding function of the locking mechanism outside of the apparatus adhering part However, when the paper feed cassette is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the entire image forming apparatus can be lifted by holding the apparatus outer cover of the box-shaped storage body by hand. When the unjust handling is performed and the lifting operation force exceeds the reference load value, the holding force of the lock mechanism is released, so that the outer part of the device jumps upward relative to the inner part of the device. And the lifting operation force is released, so that the above-described illegal handling cannot be performed.

Furthermore, in the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 of the present invention, the reference load value of the lock mechanism according to claim 1 is set so that the recording medium is stored in the box-shaped storage body. It is set to a value larger than the load value required to lift the part.

According to the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention having such a configuration, even when the recording medium is stored in the box-shaped storage body, the recording stored in the box-shaped storage body. If the reference load value is set larger than the load of the medium, the lock mechanism that locks the device inner and outer device will not be released. The attachment portion and the device outer attachment portion are held in an integrated connection state, and the entire box-shaped storage body is maintained in a rigid state.

Furthermore, in the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 3 of the present invention, the reference load value of the lock mechanism according to claim 1 is outside the apparatus in a state where the box-shaped storage body is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. It is set to a value smaller than the load value required to lift the landing part.

According to the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention having such a configuration, the image forming apparatus as a whole is held by the apparatus outer attachment portion of the paper feed cassette mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. If unauthorized handling such as lifting is performed, the locking mechanism that holds the device inner and outer device in an integrated connection will be reliably released. Only by rotating upwards, it is impossible to perform illegal handling by releasing the operating force.

Furthermore, in the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, when the box-shaped storage body according to claim 1 is mounted on the main body of the image forming apparatus, the inner part of the apparatus and the outer part of the apparatus are attached. A lock mechanism is provided for releasing the integrally connected state with the image forming unit and maintaining the integrally connected state between the apparatus inner attaching part and the apparatus outer attaching part when the box-shaped storage body is detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It has been.

According to the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention having such a configuration, when the paper feed cassette is detached from the image forming apparatus main body, it is stored in a box shape by the holding function of the lock mechanism. The body inner part and the outer part of the body are integrally connected to each other, so that good handleability can be obtained. On the other hand, when the paper feed cassette is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the lock mechanism is released, and the apparatus outer attachment part is made rotatable with respect to the apparatus inner attachment part of the box-shaped storage body. The lock mechanism is released by the operating force if the device is handled improperly, such as holding the device outer cover of the box-shaped storage unit attached to the image forming device body and lifting the entire device. The above-mentioned lifting operation force is released by rotating the device outer attachment portion so that the device outer attachment portion is flipped upward with respect to the device inner attachment portion, and the above-described unauthorized handling cannot be performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the sheet feeding cassette of the image forming apparatus, wherein the lock mechanism according to the fourth aspect is configured so that one of the device inner portion and the device outer portion of the box-shaped storage body is from the other side. An engagement member provided so as to be capable of reciprocating toward the side, and one of the device inner attachment portion and the device outer attachment portion, and the inside of the device by receiving and engaging the engagement member A locking member that maintains an integral connection state between the attachment portion and the apparatus outer attachment portion, and the engagement member is connected to the image forming apparatus main body when the box-shaped storage body is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. It is made the structure which contact | abuts and remove | deviates from the said locking member.

According to the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention having such a configuration, when the paper feed cassette is detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the engaging member and the locking member are locked by the lock mechanism. Is in the fitted state, and the device outer attachment portion is integrally connected to the device inner attachment portion of the box-shaped storage body. On the other hand, when the paper feed cassette is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the engagement state between the engagement member and the locking member is released, so that the apparatus outer attachment part rotates with respect to the apparatus inner attachment part. It is made free to move. As a result, when an illegal handling is performed such as lifting the entire image forming apparatus by holding the apparatus outer attachment part of the box-shaped storage body, the apparatus outer attachment part is separated from the apparatus inner attachment part. As a result, the lifting operation force is released, and the above-described illegal handling cannot be performed.

  As described above, the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a box-shaped storage body that stores a recording medium, which is divided into two divided structures, and one side and the other side of the two-divided structure. Are separated from each other with respect to a load applied from the outside, and illegal handling such as lifting the entire image forming apparatus by holding the outwardly exposed portion of the paper feed cassette attached to the image forming apparatus main body by hand is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the paper feed cassette that is exposed to the outside from the image forming apparatus main body and the risk of dropping the entire apparatus. With the configuration, the reliability of the paper feed cassette and the image forming apparatus can be greatly improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Prior to that, the overall structure of the image forming apparatus will be outlined with a laser printer as an example.

  In the laser printer 10 shown in FIG. 1, for example, image information sent from an external computer is converted into light modulation information 111 by a laser emission writing unit 11 via a video controller (not shown), and a process cartridge is used. 12 is imaged in the form of a spot on a photosensitive drum 121 as an image carrier provided inside the photosensitive drum 121, and the light spot is reciprocally scanned in the axial direction (main scanning direction) of the photosensitive drum 121. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the formed image is formed on 121. Then, an unfixed toner image is formed by supplying developer (toner) to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 121 from a developing device 122 that is also integrally provided in the process cartridge 12. It has become so.

  On the other hand, a sheet feeding cassette 13 constituting sheet feeding means is disposed on the lower side of the apparatus, and recording paper (recording media) P of a desired size is stored in a stack in the sheet feeding cassette 13. ing. The structure of the paper feed cassette 13 will be described in detail later. Then, the recording paper P in the paper feed cassette 13 is pulled out by the paper feed roller 13a and sent to the transfer area facing the photosensitive drum 121 while being properly timed by the registration roller 14. It has become.

  In the transfer area of the photosensitive drum 121, a transfer roller 15 as a contact transfer body is in contact with and disposed so as to contact the surface of the photosensitive drum 121. A transfer bias is applied to the transfer roller 15, and the unfixed toner image on the photosensitive drum 121 is electrostatically transferred onto the recording paper P by the transfer bias. Further, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 121 after the transfer is scraped off by the sliding contact force of the cleaning blade 123 arranged so as to come into pressure contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

  Furthermore, the recording paper P carrying the unfixed toner by the transfer action described above is conveyed toward the fixing device 16 disposed adjacent to the process cartridge 12. The fixing device 16 is provided with a fixing roller 161 and a pressure roller 162 as heaters, and unfixed toner on the recording paper P is removed by the heat fixing operation of the fixing roller 161 and the pressure roller 162. As a result of heating and melting, the toner image is fixed and fixed on the recording paper P. The recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed by such heat fixing operation is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 18 by the paper discharge roller 171 of the paper discharge port 17 provided on the upper side of the image forming apparatus main body in the figure. It has become.

  The paper discharge tray 18 holds the recording paper P discharged after fixing in a laminated form, and extends in a paper feed direction (right direction in FIG. 1) from a position immediately below the paper discharge port 17 of the image forming apparatus main body. A fixed paper discharge tray 181 is provided so as to extend obliquely upward using a part of the cover of the apparatus image forming apparatus main body, and a front end portion of the fixed paper discharge tray 181 in the paper feeding direction. The movable paper discharge tray 182 is continuously provided so as to be rotatable. The movable sheet discharge tray 182 is configured to be opened and closed between an open use position shown in FIG. 1 and a storage closed position (not shown). The upper space of the paper tray 181 is opened and closed.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the paper feed cassette 13 described above is a shallow, box-shaped storage having a substantially rectangular shape for storing the recording paper P described above in a stacked manner. The recording medium is provided to the box-shaped storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 detached from the image forming apparatus main body by including the body 131 and being configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. P can be replenished.

  The box-shaped storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 in the present embodiment has a front side (left side in FIG. 1) in the cassette mounting direction when the box-shaped storage body 131 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body (the state in FIG. 1). The image forming apparatus main body is exposed to the outside. This is because the main body of the image forming apparatus is reduced in size and weight in the longitudinal direction of the paper feed cassette 13, while the paper feed cassette 13 itself is a size that can use the recording paper P having the same paper size as the conventional one. It is because it has been made.

  At this time, the box-shaped storage body 131 is composed of a two-part structure divided in the mounting direction of the box-shaped storage body 131, and the box-shaped storage body 131 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. Thus, the device outer attachment portion 133 exposed to the outside from the image forming apparatus main body is connected to the device inner attachment portion 132 stored on the inner side of the image forming apparatus main body via a rotation support mechanism so as to be relatively rotatable. It has been made to the structure.

  That is, in the rotation support mechanism of the device outer attachment portion 133 and the device inner attachment portion 132 constituting the two-divided structure of the box-shaped storage body 131 described above, particularly shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. As shown, the rotation support pins 132b and 132b are erected from the both side walls 132a and 132a of the apparatus inner attachment portion 132 so as to protrude inward in the paper width direction. On the other hand, connection plates 133b and 133b projecting in the paper feed direction are provided at the respective opening side opening edge portions of both side walls 133a and 133a of the apparatus outer attachment portion 133, and these connection plates 133b, Rotating holes 133c and 133c with notched grooves respectively formed at the respective tip portions of 133b are rotatably fitted to the above-described rotation support pins 132b on the apparatus inner attachment portion 132 side.

  The rotation support pin 132b in this embodiment has a cross-sectional shape obtained by cutting off both sides of a circular cross section with a vertical flat surface. A notch groove corresponding to the interval between the flat surfaces on both sides of the rotation support pin 132b is formed so as to be in an externally open state. After the notch groove portion of the rotation hole 133c is inserted in the substantially vertical direction along the flat surfaces on both sides of the rotation support pin 132b, the device outer attachment portion 133 is rotated to the use position, whereby the rotation support pin 132b is rotated. Thus, the rotation hole 133c with a notch groove can be rotated and fitted in the longitudinal direction of the paper feed cassette 13 so as not to be detached.

  When the paper feed cassette 13 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the apparatus inner portion 132 fits inside the image forming apparatus main body. The apparatus outer attachment part 133 is connected to the apparatus inner attachment part 132 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction that is the stacking direction of the recording paper P. Thus, it is configured to be rotatable so that it can be flipped upward.

  An intermediate support plate 132c for supporting the stacked recording paper P so as to push it upward is disposed in the same manner as the conventional product on the inner side of the above-described apparatus inner portion 132, and the front end portion in the paper feeding direction. Is biased so as to be lifted upward by a coil spring (not shown), and the above-mentioned device outer attachment portion 133 and device inner attachment portion 132 are opposed to the rotation support pin 132d of the middle support plate 132c. The rotation support pins 132b constituting the rotation support mechanism are arranged so as to be substantially at the same position in the cassette mounting direction.

  In addition, a pair of side end plates 132e and 132e for positioning the side edges of the recording paper P accommodated in the paper feed cassette 13 can be reciprocated in the paper width direction on the inner side of the apparatus inner attachment portion 132. And a rear end plate 133d for positioning the rear end edge of the stored recording paper P in the paper feeding direction in the paper length direction. It is set up so that it can reciprocate.

  On the other hand, the above-mentioned device outer attachment portion 133 and device inner attachment portion 132 are held in an integrally connected state in a normal use state by two locking mechanisms arranged on the respective bottom plate sides. Yes. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each of these lock mechanisms has a claw on the front end side of the engagement hook 133 e provided so as to extend from the bottom plate side edge of the apparatus outer attachment portion 133. The portion is configured to be fitted to the tip end edge portion of the locking plate 132f erected on the bottom plate side edge portion of the device inner attachment portion 132, and a load load equal to or less than a predetermined reference load value Ws. For W1, the fitting body of the engagement hook 133e with respect to the locking plate 132f is maintained, and the device outer attachment portion 133 and the device inner attachment portion 132 are held in an integrated connection state. On the other hand, for the load W2 exceeding the reference load value Ws, the fitting-like body of the engagement hook 133e with respect to the locking plate 132f is released, and the apparatus outer attachment part 133 and the apparatus inner attachment part 132 are integrated. Thus, the connected state is released, and the device outer attachment portion 133 is separated from the device inner attachment portion 132.

  That is, the reference load value Ws set in the lock mechanism is the minimum required for lifting the apparatus outer cover 133 by hand in a state where the recording paper P is stored in a stacked manner in the box-shaped storage body 131. It is set to a value larger than the load load value W1 (Ws> W1), and is the minimum necessary for lifting the apparatus outer attachment part 133 by hand with the box-shaped storage body 131 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. It is set to a value smaller than the applied load value W2 (Ws <W2). For example, when the recording load P is stored in the box-shaped storage body 131 in a stacked manner and the minimum load applied to lift the device outer attachment 133 by hand is 1 kg weight (W1). The reference load value Ws of the lock mechanism is set as a value of 2 kg weight or more (Ws ≧ 2 kg weight). Further, when the minimum load load value required to lift the apparatus outer attachment part 133 by hand with the box-shaped container 131 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body is 6 kg weight (W2), a lock is applied. The reference load value Ws of the mechanism is set as a value of 5 kg weight or less (Ws ≦ 5 kg weight).

  When the sheet feeding cassette 13 according to this embodiment is in a normal use state, the device inner attachment portion 132 and the device outer attachment portion 133 of the box-shaped storage body 131 are integrated by the lock mechanisms 132f and 133e. Are kept in a connected state. On the other hand, when an illegal handling such as lifting the entire image forming apparatus by holding the apparatus outer attaching portion 133 of the paper feed cassette 13 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body by hand is performed. The lock mechanisms 132f and 133e that lock the device inner attachment portion 132 and the device outer attachment portion 133 by the force are released, and only the device outer attachment portion 133 rotates upward to release the lifting operation force. As a result, the above-described illegal handling cannot be performed.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the reference load value Ws of the lock mechanisms 132f and 133e is the load load value W1 when the apparatus outer cover part 133 is lifted by hand with the recording paper P stored in the box-shaped storage body 131. Due to the larger setting, even when the recording paper P is stored in the box-shaped storage body 131, the device inner attachment portion 132 and the device outer attachment portion 133 of the paper feed cassette 13 are integrally connected. The reference load value Ws of the lock mechanisms 132f and 133e is the load load value when the apparatus outer attachment part 133 is lifted by hand with the box-shaped storage body 131 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. By setting the value to be smaller than W2, illegal handling such as lifting the entire apparatus by holding the sheet feeding cassette 13 attached to the image forming apparatus main body is prevented. To have.

  Next, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 11 in which the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment described above, the inside of the apparatus constituting the box-shaped container 131. The inner wall portion 132 and the inner wall portion 132 of the device outer wear portion 133 are arranged on the side walls 132a and 133a, instead of the lock mechanisms 132f and 133e in the first embodiment described above. A lock mechanism 200 is provided for detachably connecting the apparatus outer attachment part 133. As shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14, the lock mechanism 200 includes an elongated plate-like engagement member 201 provided on the device inner attachment part 132 side, and the engagement member 201. And a hollow box-like locking member 202 provided on the apparatus outer cover 133 side so as to be received and fitted.

  Among them, the engaging member 201 is supported by an elongated guide rail 201a extending in the paper feeding direction so as to be linearly reciprocable in the paper feeding direction, and is mounted on the inner side of the guide rail 201a. Due to the pressing force of the coil spring 201b as the urging means in the paper feeding direction, the distal end portion of the engaging member 201 is urged so as to protrude toward the locking member 202 described above.

  Further, the above-described locking member 202 is formed from a hollow box-like body provided on the side wall 133a of the apparatus outer attachment portion 133, and the distal end portion of the engaging member 201 is located in the locking member 202. It is configured to be inserted in the paper feeding direction by the biasing force of the coil spring 201b described above. Then, when the distal end portion of the engaging member 201 is inserted into the locking member 202 and is brought into a fitting state (see FIG. 12), the above-described locking mechanism 200 is activated, thereby the device. The apparatus outer attachment portion 133 is fixed to the inner attachment portion 132 in a non-rotatable state and is held in an integrated connection state. Further, when the engaging member 201 is pulled out from the locking member 202 (see FIG. 14), the lock mechanism 200 is released, and the device outer attachment portion 133 has the rotation support mechanism described above with respect to the device inner attachment portion 132. The two members 132 and 133 are released from an integral connection state in a state where they can be rotated via the two.

  Further, a stopper pin 201c is erected on the outer surface of the engagement member 201 so as to protrude in the paper width direction, and the stopper pin 201c is an elongated slide formed on the guide rail 201a. It penetrates the opening groove 201d in the paper width direction and protrudes outward. The slide opening groove 201d extends over an appropriate length in the paper conveying direction, and the stopper pin 201c is linearly reciprocated along the slide opening groove 201d.

  On the other hand, on the apparatus main body side, a support wall W (see FIG. 14) is provided to stand against the stopper pin 201c when the paper feed cassette 13 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body. That is, when the box-shaped storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 is mounted in the image forming apparatus main body, the stopper pin 201c comes into contact with the support wall W in the image forming apparatus main body in the paper conveyance direction and receives it. It is done. Further, from this state, when the box-like storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 is further pushed in and inserted, the engaging member 201 is moved in a direction in which the engaging member 201 is pulled out relative to the locking member 202. .

  When the box-shaped storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 is completely mounted, the engaging member 201 is completely stored inside the guide rail 201a as shown by the solid line in FIG. In this state, the lock mechanism 200 is released. As a result, the engagement member 201 is maintained in a state of being completely detached from the locking member 202, and the integrated connection state between the device inner attachment portion 132 and the device outer attachment portion 133 is released. The apparatus outer attachment part 133 that protrudes from the image forming apparatus main body to the outside and is exposed to the apparatus inner attachment part 132 stored on the inner side of the image forming apparatus main body is freely rotatable via a rotation support mechanism. It is made into a connected state.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in a state where the box-shaped storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 is detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the engaging member 201 on the apparatus inboard portion 132 side is inserted into the locking member 202. Thus, the fitting state is established (see FIG. 12), and the device inner attachment portion 132 and the device outer attachment portion 133 are held in an integrated connection state. On the other hand, when the box-shaped storage body 131 of the paper feed cassette 13 is mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus, the engaging member 201 is pulled out from the locking member 202 (see FIG. 14). The integral connection state of the wearing part 132 and the apparatus outer wearing part 133 is released.

  In other words, according to the second embodiment, the sheet feeding cassette 13 removed from the image forming apparatus main body has the device inner attachment portion 132 and the device outer attachment portion 133 firmly and integrally connected by the lock mechanism 200. Therefore, the handling property of the single sheet feeding cassette 13 is improved. In addition, the sheet feeding cassette 13 mounted on the image forming apparatus main body has the apparatus outer attachment part 133 so that the image is attached to the apparatus inner attachment part 132 so that the apparatus outer attachment part 133 is completely in a freely rotating state. Unauthorized handling such as lifting the entire forming apparatus is well prevented.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Not too long.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a printer, but the present invention can be similarly applied to a paper feeding cassette of another image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. .

  The paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention described above can be widely applied to a wide variety of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines as well as image forming apparatuses such as printers.

1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view illustrating a schematic structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a paper feed cassette according to the first embodiment of the present invention used in the printer shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory side view of the paper feed cassette shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the paper feed cassette illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an external perspective explanatory view showing an enlarged side of a rotation support mechanism of the paper feed cassette shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating the other side of the rotation support mechanism of the paper feed cassette illustrated in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view illustrating a rotation state of the paper feed cassette illustrated in FIG. 2. It is side surface explanatory drawing showing the rotation state of the paper feed cassette shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory bottom view illustrating an enlargement of a lock mechanism of the paper feed cassette illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional explanatory diagram illustrating a structure of a lock mechanism of the paper feed cassette illustrated in FIG. 9. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view showing the paper feed cassette concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an explanatory external perspective view illustrating an enlarged lock mechanism used in the paper feed cassette illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing the structure of the lock mechanism shown in FIG. 12. It is side surface explanatory drawing of the locking mechanism represented to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Laser printer (image forming device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Process cartridge 121 Photosensitive drum 122 Developing device 13 Paper feed cassette 13a Paper feed roller 131 Box-shaped storage body 132 Device inner part 132a Side wall 132b Rotation support pin 132c Medium support plate 132d Rotation support pin 132e Side end plate 132f Locking plate 133 Device outer attachment portion 133a Side wall 133b Connecting plate 133c Rotating hole with notched groove 133d Rear end plate 133e Engaging hook P Recording paper (recording medium)
Reference Signs List 16 fixing device 18 paper discharge tray 200 locking mechanism 201 engaging member 202 locking member 201a guide rail 201b coil spring (biasing means)
201c Stopper pin 201d Slide opening groove W Support wall

Claims (5)

A box-shaped storage body having a substantially rectangular plane for storing recording media in a stacked form is configured to be detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
In the sheet cassette of the image forming apparatus configured such that a part of the box-shaped storage body mounted on the image forming apparatus main body is exposed to the outside from the image forming apparatus main body.
The box-shaped storage body is composed of a two-part structure divided in the mounting direction of the box-shaped storage body,
The other side of the two-part structure is connected in a separable manner,
The two-part structure of the box-shaped storage body includes a device inner attachment portion that is stored inside the image forming apparatus main body when the box-shaped storage body is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, and the image formation A device outer part exposed from the inner side of the device main body to the outer side, and
The apparatus outer part that constitutes the box-shaped storage body is rotatably connected to the apparatus inner part via a rotation support mechanism,
While holding the apparatus inner part and the apparatus outer part of the two-part structure in an integrally connected state with respect to a load less than or equal to a reference load value in the stacking direction of the recording medium, the reference load value is A paper feed cassette of an image forming apparatus, wherein a lock mechanism for releasing an integrated connection state is provided for a load exceeding the load . A reference load value of the lock mechanism is set to a value larger than a load load value that is minimum required to lift the apparatus outer cover in a state where a recording medium is stored in the box-shaped storage body. The paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . The reference load value of the lock mechanism is set to a value smaller than a load load value necessary to lift the apparatus outer cover in a state where the box-shaped storage body is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body. 2. The paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein When the box-shaped storage body is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the integrated state of the apparatus inner and outer device is released, and the box-shaped storage body is detached from the image forming apparatus main body. It is the paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lock mechanism is provided for holding the integral connection state between the outside of the device wearing part and the device application section when the. The lock mechanism includes an engagement member provided to be reciprocally movable from one side of the device inner part and the device outer part of the box-shaped storage body toward the other side;
Provided on the other side of the device inner attachment portion and the device outer attachment portion, and by receiving and engaging the engaging member, an integrated connection state between the device inner attachment portion and the device outer attachment portion is maintained. A locking member,
The engagement member is configured to come into contact with the image forming apparatus main body side and to be detached from the locking member when the box-shaped storage body is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. Item 5. The paper feed cassette of the image forming apparatus according to Item 4 .

Images